Sun garners 33 awards in contest

Dan Kulin

Monday, Sept. 23, 2002 | 11 a.m.

Las Vegas Sun reporter Benjamin Grove shared the top reporting prize of the year, and overall the Sun took 33 awards in the Nevada Press Association 2002 Better Newspaper Contest.

Grove, the Sun's Washington correspondent, and Frank X. Mullen Jr. from the Reno Gazette-Journal were named outstanding journalists among the state's daily newspapers during an association convention Saturday in Pahrump.

Contest judges commended Grove, 31, for his coverage of the Yucca Mountain issue.

"Grove was at the fore of a deeply important national issue," the judges said, citing both reporters' "diversity and depth."

Sun staff also received five first-place awards, 12 second-place awards, eight third-place awards and six honorable mentions.

"All the Sun winners are deserving, especially Ben Grove, who had an outstanding year in Washington covering Yucca Mountain and the many other issues there that affect Las Vegas and Nevada," Sun Managing Editor Michael J. Kelley said.

First-place awards went to Sun staff members Stacy J. Willis, Best Feature Story for "Russian Refugees"; Dean Juipe, Best Local Sports Story for "Tyson K.O.'d"; Steve Addy, Best Local Sports Feature for "What If?"; and Aaron Mayes, Best Portrait (photograph) for "Helen Cannon."

The Sun also took first place in the Best Editorial Page category and political commentator Jon Ralston, who writes a column for the Sun, received a first-place award for Best Local Non-Staff Column.

Second-place awards went to the Sun for general excellence; the Sun staff in the spot news category; David Strow, business story; Spencer Patterson, local sports story; Ron Kantowski, local sports column; Mike Campbell, editorial; Sun staff, overall design; Pam Killinsworth, information graphic; Sam Morris, spot news photo coverage; R. Marsh Starks, illustrated photo; Ethan Miller, sports photo; and John Katsilometes for headline writing.

Third-place awards went to the Sun for Community Service; Kim Smith and Cy Ryan, investigative or in-depth story; Addy, local sports column; Campbell, editorial; Adam Bucci, page design; Mayes, spot news photo coverage; Miller, general news photo; and Mayes, sports photo.

Honorable mentions were awarded to Grove in the feature story category, Steve Kanigher, business story; Brian Hilderbrand, local sports story; Kirk Baird, entertainment writing; Morris, photo portrait; and Dave Clayton for headline writing.

The Sun's entries were judged against those from other Nevada daily newspapers with a daily circulation of 15,000 or more, except for the headline writing entries, which were judged against those from all daily newspapers in the state.

The contest was judged by members of the Utah Press Association.